Vertically collapsible and foldable camper apparatus



23, 1967 R. E. DAVIS 3,321,233

VERTICALLY COLLAPSIBLE AND FOLDABLE CAMPER APPARATUS Filed Feb. 17, 19655 Sheets-Sheet T.

INVENTOR. ROBERT E. DAVIS FIG. 6

R. E. DAVIS May 23, 1967 VERTICALLY COLLAPSIBLE AND FOLDABLE CAMPERAPPARATUS Fild Feb. 17, 1965 3 Sheets-$heet 2 INVENTOR ROBERT E. DAVISI!!! rfilvvvirlllllllirlIt!!! r/ltvllllluillllliilllrlilnall 1 3, 1967R. E. DAVIS 332 233 VERTICALLY COLLAPSIBLE AND FOLDABLE CAMPER APPARATUSFiled Feb. 17, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ROBERT E. DAVIS UnitedStates Patent Ofifice 3,321,233 VERTICALLY COLLAPSIBLE AND FOLDABLECAMPER APPARATUS Robert E. Davis, 570 Barnett St, Anaheim, Calif. 92805Filed Feb. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 433,281 12 Claims. (Cl. 296--23) Generallyspeaking, the present invention relates to a vertically collapsible andfoldable camper apparatus which may be vertically expanded into amaximum expansion position wherein it effectively defines a roomstructure of substantial height normally such that an adult person maystand erect therein, although not specifically so limited in all formsof the invention, and adapted to be vertically collapsed and folded intoa minimum expansion position wherein its vertical height has beeneffectively compressed to a very substantial degree to facilitatetransporting and moving the camper apparatus. Normally, said minimumexpansion position will be such that the camper apparatus can beconveniently parked within a conventional garage for a privateautomobile, although the invention is not specifically so limited in allforms thereof.

It should also be noted that, normally, such a camper apparatus isintended to be effectively connected with respect to a motor vehicleand, in one preferred exemplary form thereof, is adapted to beeffectively connected to, and mounted on, a rear portion of one specifictype of motor vehicle comprising a pickup truck having a cab in thefront and a horizontal bed in rear provided with upstanding side wallportions and a rear tailgate portion, and the invention will bedescribed hereinafter, for exemplary purposes, in said specificexemplary form wherein it is adapted to be mounted and carried by a rearportion of a pickup truck. However, it should be specifically noted thatthe invention is not so limited in all forms thereof.

With the above points in mind, it is an object of the present inventionto provide a vertically collapsible and foldable camper apparatus of thecharacter referred to hereinabove which is adapted to be verticallyexpanded into a maximum vertical expansion position when it is to beoccupied and interiorly used by one or more persons, and adapted to becontrollably vertically downwardly retracted, collapsed and folded intoa minimum expansion position when it is to be transported or stored andthe minimized vertical height thereof is a decided advantage. Whilenormally incapable of accommodating standing adults when collapsed, itmay be occupied or used by sitting or reclining adults or by children ifdesired.

It is a further object to provide such camper apparatus whichadditionally includes controllably operable linear motor means (which isintended to be broadly construed as meaning any type of device which maybe operated manually or otherwise for effectively increasing anddecreasing the vertical space between the bottom and the top) foreffectively vertically expanding and/ or vertically retracting thecamper when desired.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus ofthe character referred to in the preceding object wherein said linearmotor means comprises a plurality of extension actuator means connectedbetween upper and lower portions of the vertically expandable andcollapsible camper and manually controllably operable means forcontrolled simultaneous vertical expansion and/ or retraction of saidplurality of extension actuator means.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus ofthe character referred to hereinabove, wherein the linear motor means,or extension actuator means, are provided with means for controllablylocking them in either a maximum extension position or a minimumextension position (this latter position actually comprising the fullyretracted position of the camper referred to here- 3,321,233 PatentedMay 23, 1967 inbefore) so that the camper may be locked in either thefully expanded relationship or the fully collapsed or retractedrelationship.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide indicator orwarning apparatus or means effectively responsive to full verticalretraction or collapsing of the camper into the minimum expansionposition referred to above for perceptibly indicating to an observerthat the camper has been retracted into the fully collapsed or retractedposition, In one preferred exemplary form, said warning apparatus mayinclude a visibly perceptible red jewel light, or the like, adapted tobe positioned on an instrument panel or dashboard within the interior ofa cab of a pickup truck carrying the camper, or at some other convenientlocation for ready viewing by a driver of the pickup truck, and arrangedto indicate the full retraction of the camper by de-energization of saidred jewel indicator light, which is normally energized when the camperis not in said fully collapsed and retracted relationship and when theignition switch (or any other suitable switch in the pickup truck) isturned on, such as would normally be the case when the motor of thepickup truck is about to be started and the truck is about to be drivenfrom one location to another while carrying the camper on the backthereof in presumably fully collapsed and retracted relationship. It isobvious that, under such circumstances, when the driver of the pickuptruck turns on the ignition switch to start the motor of the pickuptruck, if the camper is not in the fully collapsed and retractedrelationship the red jewel warning light on the instrument panel ordashboard of the truck will immediately become illuminated and warn thedriver that such is the case so that he will normally stop the truck andsee that the camper is collapsed into the fully retracted, collapsed andlocked relationship which is desired before driving the pickup truck,and the camper carried on the rear thereof, at any substantial speed.This is desirable for safety purposes and the specific exemplaryindicating and warning apparatus just referred to will warn the driverwhenever the camper is not in condition to permit the safe driving ofthe pickup truck.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus ofthe character referred to herein having any of the advantages referredto herein and including any of the features referred to herein,generically and/or specifically, and individually or in combination, andwhich is of relatively inexpensive, simple construction adapted forlarge scale mass manufacture at relatively low cost whereby to beconducive to widespread use thereof.

Further objects are implicit in the detailed description which followshereinafter (which is to be considered as exemplary of, but notspecifically limiting, the present invention), and said objects will beapparent to persons skilled in the art after a careful study of thedetailed description which follows hereinafter.

For the purpose of clarifying the nature of the present invention,several exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in thehereinbelow-described figures of the accompanying drawings and aredescribed in detail hereinafter.

FIG. 1 is a reduced-size, three dimensional view with certain portionsremoved for reasons of drawing simplification and clarity, showing oneexemplary form of the invention which is of a type adapted to beeffectively connected to, mounted on, and carried by the rear bedportion of a pickup truck, which is not shown for reasons of drawingsimplification and clarity and since it comprises no part of the presentinvention. It should be noted that this view shows the room-definingstructure of the camper apparatus in fully vertically expandedrelationship or in a position which might be termed a maximum verticalexpansion position or relationship suitable for interior occupancy anduse by one or more persons.

FIG. 2 is a reduced-size, three dimensional view generally similar toFIG. 1, but illustrates the room-defining room structure comprising thecamper of FIG. 1 in fully vertically retracted or collapsed relationshipor in a position which might be termed a minimum vertical expansion orfull retraction position or relationship not intended 'for interioroccupancy and use by persons in the manner of the camper when in thefully expanded relationship shOWn in FIG. 1. In other words, the fullycollapsed or minimum expansion position and relationship of the camperof FIG. 2 is intended primarily to facilitate transport and/or storageof same by reason of the minimization of the vertical height thereof.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyalong the plane indicated by the arrows 33 of FIG. 1 with the horizontalcentral plane of said section, and with the right portion and the bottomportion of the apparatus on said plane 3--3 all being broken away andremoved for drawing space saving reasons and for reasons of drawingsimplification and clarity.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partially broken away sectional viewsimilar to and on substantially the same plane as FIG. 3, but shows thefully collapsed or [fully retracted position thereof taken substantiallyalong the plane indicated by the arrows 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view quite similar to FIG.4, but is taken a little farther forward on the left side of the camperapparatus, substantially along the plane indicated by the arrows 5-5 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional View takensubstantially along the plane indicated by the arrows 66 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is another three-dimensional view of the first exemplary form ofthe camper apparatus of the present invention, as viewed from adifferent position than the three-dimensional views comprising FIGS. 1and 2. It should be noted that, in this view, the camper is in the fullyvertically expanded or maximum expansion position and relationship shownin FIGS. 1 and 3. This view also shows in broken lines in a somewhatdiagrammatic form the linear motor means in one specific form whereinsaid linear rnotor means comprises four extension actuator means, eachof a hydraulic type interconnected by hydraulic lines to a source ofpressurized hydnaulic liquid, which is shown as comprising a manuallyoperable pumping jack means, which in response to manual pumping actionthereof will apply the pressurized hydraulic liquid to each of the fourextension actuators and vertically extend the camper apparatus into themaximum vertical expansion position clearly shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 7,and which may be operated to return the pressurized hydraulic liquidfrom each of the four extension actuators to the pumping jack means,which will, of course, allow each of the four extension jacks tovertically collapse under the action of gravity whereby to allow thecamper apparatus to vertically collapse into the fully retracted orminimum expansion relationship best shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, three-dimensional view of one exemplary cornerportion of one exemplary form of the vertically collapsible and foldableside wall means comprising the vertically collapsible and foldable upperroom portion of the complete room-defining room structure of the camperapparatus and which make it possible for the vertical folding actionbetween the maximum expansion position shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 7 andthe minimum expansion position shown in FIG. 2, to occur.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view, takensubstantially along the plane 9--9 of FIG. 8, and clearly illustratesone exemplary type of the folda-ble vertically collapsible side wallmeans of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed view of the portion ofFIG. 5 enclosed within the broken line circle designated at 10 in FIG.5, and clearly illustrates one exemplary form of the sealing andeffective weatherstripping means adapted to effectively seal thehorizontal junction region between vertically adjacent surfaces of thetop edge parts of the upper and lower room portions of the completeroom-defining room structure comprising the camper apparatus of theexemplary first form of the invention illustrated. It will be noted thatthis sealing and weather-stripping mean only comes into play when theupper room portion of the camper apparatus is in the fully retracted orfully collapsed relationship best shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 6.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but illustrates a modified form ofthe vertically foldable and collapsible side wall means from thatillustrated in the first form of the invention and shown in detail inFIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view, takensubstantially along the plane 12 1 2 of FIG. 11 and clearly illustratesthe modified exemplary type of the foldable vertically collapsible sidewall means of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIGS. 8 and 9, but illustrates anothermodified form of the vertically foldable and collapsible side wall meansfrom that illustrated in the first form of the invention, and shown indetail in FIGS. 8 and 9 and from that shown in the second form of theinvention illustrated in detail in FIGS. 11 and 12.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view, takensubstantially along the plane 1414 of FIG. 13, and clearly illustratesthe second modified exemplary type of the foldable verticallycollapsible side wall means of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic, electrical schematic view illustrating oneexemplary form of the indicator or warning apparatus or means adapted toperceptibly warn a would-be driver of the pickup truck that the campera-pparatus has not been fully collapsed into the fully retractedrelationship shown in FIG. 2, which is supposed to be done before thepickup truck and the camper adapted to be carried thereby is driven fromone location to another-particularly, at relatively high speeds.

Generally speaking, the exemplary form of the vertically collapsible,foldable, and collapsible camper apparatus of the present inventionillustrated may be said to comprise a room-defining room structure,generally designated by the reference numeral 21, which includesv alower room portion 21L and an upper room portion 21U. In the exemplaryform illustrated, said lower room portion 21L is of substantially rigid,substantially non-collapsible construction similar to conventional rigidcamper construction and has a bottom part 22 which is substantiallyT-shaped as seen in end elevation and which is cooperable to be receivedwithin a substantially similarly shaped bed and upstanding side wallportions of a pickup truck (not shown) and normally adapted to befastened thereto by appropriate fastener means (also not shown sincesuch are well known in the art and comprise no part of the presentinvention).

It will be noted that the rear wall 23 of the lower room portion 21L isprovided with a door, as indicated at 24, which normally is positionedin a rearwardly facing direction at the rear end of the pickup truck(not shown) so that entry and exit may be provided into and out of theinterior of the room-defining structure 21 by way of said door 24.

It will be noted that the previously mentioned upper room portion 21Uhas a roof 25 across the top thereof and depending therefrom hasvertically collapsible and folda'ble side wall means, indicatedgenerally at 26, around the four sides of the upper room portion 211]and effectively connected at the bottom thereof with respect to a topedge of the rigid lower room portion 21L, thus effectively providing anarrangement such as to make the upper room portion 21U verticallycollapsible and foldable from the fully expanded or maximum expansionposition best shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 7 into the minimum 6 expansion orfully retracted position best shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 6.

In the exemplary form of the invention illustrated, it will be notedthat the vertically collapsible and foldable upper room portion 21U haswhat might be termed a top edge portion therearound, as indicated at 27,which is rigid and which carries the roof 25 thereover and whicheffectively has the upper end of said vertically folda ble wall means 26connected thereto, as indicated at 28. This type of connection of thevertically foldable wall means 28 to said top edge portion 27 extendscompletely around the upper edge of the upper room portion 21U.

Also in the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated, it willbe noted that said upper room portion ZlU is provided with what might betermed an effective base edge portion to which the lower edge of saidvertically collapsible and foldable side wall means 26 is also firmlyattached, such as by fastening means 29. Careful examination of FIGS. 35makes it apparent that said effective base edge portion also comprises atop edge part of the lower room portion 21L and said composite member isdesignated by the reference numeral 31, and it should be clearlyunderstood that it does not move vertically when the remainder of the uper room portion 21U is vertically expanded or vertically collapsed.

It should be noted that the vertically collapsible and foldable sidewall means 26 may assume a variety of forms and constructions and may beof a variety of different types of materials as long as it is capable ofbeing effectively folded and unfolded in the manner most clearlyillustrated in FIGS. 3-5. Details of certain preferred exemplary formsof said side wall means 26 will be particularly described hereinafter.

The vertical expansion and retraction of the upper room portion 21U iseffectively accomplished through the use of linear motor meanseffectively vertically interconnecting said upper and lower roomportions 21D and 21L and controllably operable for forcible verticalextension of said linear motor means whereby to cause vertical expansionand unfolding of said vertically collapsible and foldable side wallmeans 26 of said upper room portion 21U between the lower verticallcollapsed position shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 6, and the verticallyfully expanded or maximum expansion position best shown in FIGS. 1, 3,and 7. Of course, effectively vertical retraction and shortening of saidlinear motor means will allow the upper room portion 21U to collapseinto the minimum expansion or fully retracted position best shown inFIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 6, under the action of gravity. In the exemplaryfirst form of the invention illustrated, said linear motor means aregenerally designated by the reference numeral 32 and take a specificexemplary form comprising four hydraulic extension actuator means of thetype frequently known as single action cylinders verticallyinterconnected between said upper and lower room portions 21U and 21.1.at four rectangularly spaced locations within the interior of theroom-defining room structure 21, as is best shown fragmentarily andsomewhat diagrammatically and schematically in phantom in FIG. 7.

It will be noted that each of said extension actuator means has aconnecting rod portion 33 which has its upper end in effective abutmentwith respect to the upper room portion 21U by way of the abutmentthereof with a cross member 34 underlying the roof 25 and connected tothe top edge portion 27 of said upper room portion 21U, as is best shownfragmentarily in FIGS. 3 and 4. The upper end of each of said connectingrods 33 is provided with a projection element 35 which extends throughan aperture 36 in said cross member 34 for maintaining the properposition of the connecting rod 33. However, various other connectionmeans may be employed in lieu of the arrangement best illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4 and just described in detail.

The lower portion of each of said extension actuators 6. 32 includes acylinder 37, one of which is shown fragmentarily and partially brokenaway in FIGS. 3 and 4, which is adapted to carry a conventional pistontherein, such as is shown in broken lines at 38 in FIGS. 3 and 4, andwhich may be of any suitable type and which is adapted to be verticallyupwardly slidably forcibly moved with respect to the cylinder 37 whenpressurized fluid (which also means liquid) is introduced into the lowerend of the cylinder 37 by an inflow duct 39, shown fragmentarily inFIGS. 3 and 4 and shown schematically in FIG. 7. In other words, each ofthe four extension actuator means 32 comprises a conventional singleaction hydraulic cylinder which may have a coiled compression springpositioned above the piston 38 and within the cylinder 37 for forciblyreturning the actuator 32 to its fully retracted position Whenever thepressurized liquid or fluid is removed from the lower portion of thecylinder 37. However, such a conventional type return biasing spring isnot actually required since the entire weight of the upper room portion21U is supported by the four connecting rods 33, and, thus, said weightwill normally cause each of the actuators 32 to return to the fullyretracted position, under the action of gravity, and without thenecessity of any return biasing spring means whenever the pressurizedliquid or fluid is removed from the lower portion of each of the fourcylinders 37.

It will be noted that, for purposes of illustration only, such apressurized liquid is shown at 41 in the fragmentary sectional view ofthe cylinder 37 shown in FIG.

In the exemplary arrangement illustrated fragmentarily in FIGS. 3 and 4and in diagrammatic schematic form in FIG. 7, each of said plurality ofextension actuator means 32 has its input pressure tubing or line 39,which effectively comprises hydraulic circuit means, extending to acommon reservoir or supply of hydraulic liquid which can be controllablypressurized for simultaneously operating each of said extensionactuators 32 in either a forcible vertical extension manner or avertical retraction manner under the action of gravity as describedabove. In FIG. 7, such a common reservoir or supply of hydraulic liquidis generally indicated at 42 and takes a specific form wherein itcomprises a pumping jack means of a conventional type which carries sucha supply of hydraulic liquid and which has a manually operable handle 43which can be controllably pumped for pressurizing said hydraulic liquidwhereby to force same outwardly through the four supply lines: 39 of thehydraulic circuit means to the bottom end of each of the four cylinders37 of the four extension actuator means 32 for causing simultaneousforcible vertical extension thereof in the manner previously described.

The conventional hydraulic jack means 42 is normally provided with means(not shown since such are Well known in the art) for controllablyrelieving the pressure on the hydraulic fluid and allowing same toreturn from the lower cylinder portions 37 of each of the extensionactuators 32 through the corresponding hydraulic circuit lines 39 backto the jack 42 so that each of the extension actuators 32 will beeffectively retracted or shortened at a controlled rate, either byreason of return biasing springs as previously mentioned carried withineach of the extension actuators 32 in the conventional manner, orbecause of the weight of the upper room portion 21U, eifectively bearingupon each of said extension actuators 32 and causing same to shortenunder the action of gravity as permitted by the return flow of thepressurized liquid 41 from the lower actuator cylinder portions 37 backto the common source of supply or reservoir of pressurized hydraulicfluid comprising the pumping jack 42.

It will be noted that, in the preferred exemplary first form of theinvention illustrated, each of said linear motor extension actuatormeans 32 (or, in certain forms of the invention if desired, one or moreof said actuator means 32) is effectively provided with controllablydisengageable and inactivatable locking means cooperable for lockingsaid extension actuator means in either the fully extended relationshipreferred to hereinbefore, or the fully retracted relationship referredto hereinbefore. In the exemplary first form illustrated, each of saidlocking means takes the form of a locking pin 44 and a pair oftransverse locking apertures 45 and 46 in the corresponding connectingrod 33 of the corresponding exten sion actuator means 32. It will benoted that said apertures 45 and 46 are vertically spaced apart byexactly the distance between the maximum fully expanded position of theupper room portion 21U shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 7 and the minimumexpansion position thereof shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 6, and that whenthe upper room portion 21U is fully expanded in the manner shown inFIGS. 1, 3, and 7, the corresponding pin 44, which is adapted to bereceived within corresponding apertures 47 at the upper end of thecorresponding cylinder 37, is caused to pass through the correspondingaperture 46 in the corresponding connecting rod 33, which looks same inthe fully extended relationship. However, when the device is to beretracted, each such locking pin 44 is withdrawn from the lockingrelationship shown in FIG. 3 and the pumping jack 42 is operated in aretraction manner is previously described so that the upper room portionZIU can fully collapse under the action of gravity into the fullyretracted position shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 6, and within theretainer R, after which said locking pin 44 is reinserted through thealigned apertures 47 in the cylinder 37'and is caused to pass throughthe other aperture 45 in the corresponding connecting rods 33, wherebyto positively lock each of the extension actuators 32 in fully retractedrelationship and also to correspondingly lock the entire upper roomportion 21U in the fully collapsed and retracted relationship shown inFIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 6. When this occurs, the sealing and effectiveweather-stripping means, generally designated at 48 as best shown inFIG. 10, comes into play and effectively seals the otherwise openjunction region 49 between the vertically adjacent surfaces 51 and 52 ofthe top edge portions or parts 27 and 31 of the upper room portion 21Uand lower room portion 21L, respectively.

As is best shown in FIG. 10, said sealing and weatherstripping meanscomprises a compressible elastomeric gasket means 53 fastened bysuitable fastening screw means 54 to said bottom surface 51 of said topedge part 27 of said upper room portion 21U and additional- 1y includesa depending weather strip or flap 55 carried by the outside surface ofsaid top edge part 27 of said upper room portion ZIU and effectivelycomprising a downward extension of the roof 25.

It will be noted that when the upper and lower room portions ZIU and 21Lare effectively locked together as previously described, the gasket 53is forced against a clamping plate or strip 56 which is fastened byscrew means 57 to the top edge 31 carried at the top of the lower roomportion 21L whereby to make a very effective seal therebetween.Incidentally, it should be noted that said clamping plate or strip 56and screw means 57 actually comprise the fastening means indicatedgenerally at 29 in FIGS. 3-5 and previously referred to as fastening thebottom edge of the vertically collapsible and foldable wall means 26 tosaid composite base edge and top edge part 31.

It should be noted that the foldable side wall means 26 may have aplurality of flexible and foldable windows 58 therein which may be madeof a flexible mesh-like material similar to nylon net or the like and,therefore, are fully capable of folding along with the folding of theside wall means 26, and, if desired, they may be provided withweatherproof cover means which can be rolled up to allow ventilationthrough the flexible net material 58 of said windows or which can berolled down and fastened thereacross to effectively seal same againstinclement weather. Such weather covers are not shown for reasons ofdrawing simplification and clarity and since they do not comprise anypart of the present invention.

It should also be noted that the rear portion of said verticallycollapsible and foldable side wall means 26 may be provided with awindow of a transparent and substantially non-flexible type such as isgenerally indicated at 59. In order to allow folding of the adjacentportions of the foldable side wall means 26, said window 59 may beeffectively hinged as indicated at 61 in FIG. 6, and may be providedwith effective edge fastening or junction means along the edges, asindicated at 62, to allow the window 59 to be in the normal uppermostuse position as shown in FIG. 1, or to be released along the sidejunctions 62 and hingedly swung downwardly by the hinge means 61 into aposition immediately inside of the corresponding rear part of the rigidlower room portion 211. in the manner clearly shown in FIG. 6 so thatthe upper room portion 21U can be collapsed downwardly into the fullyretracted position best shown in FIG. 2. However, any of the previouslymentioned windows may be modified or eliminated entirely in certainforms of the invention.

While the vertically collapsible and foldable wall means, indicatedgenerally at 26, may take a number of different forms, several exemplaryones will be described and illustrated herein, and one such isillustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 and takes the form of a plurality ofvertically interconnected thin-sheet, non-folding, slat portions 63vetrically interconnected by effectively foldable and bendable hingeportions, such as indicated at 64 and best shown in FIG. 9. In the formillustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 (as best shown in FIG. 9) it will be notedthat the foldable wall means 26 is of a laminated construction which maycomprise a metal foil 65 carrying covering fabric, foam plastic orrubber, or other suitable thermal insulation material 66 cemented orotherwise bonded or suitably affixed on each side thereof and initiallybent and/ or effectively weakened to provide the plurality of initiallybent and alternatively offset hinge portions 64. It will readily beunderstood that since the composite laminated wall means 26, comprisingthe slat portions 63 and hinge portions 64 are initially prebent, whichmay be said to effectively weaken the structure at each of the hingelines 64, the application of vertical force upwardly by the previouslymentioned extension actuator means 32 will merely effectively straightenout each of the hinge means 64 somewhat but not completely and will,thus, allow the vertical length of the foldable wall means 26 toelongate to the necessary degree to permit vertical expansion of theupper room portion ZIU from the fully collapsed relationship shown inFIG. 2 into the fully extended or expanded relationship shown in FIG. 1.Each of the hinge means 64 effectively goes around each of the fourcorner parts of the upper room portion 21U and the direction of outwardand inward bending thereof effectively changes at each of said cornerparts in the manner of an accordion fold as is clearly shown in FIG. 8.

It will also be understood that when the extension actuator means 32 areretracted, the still pre bent and effectively weakened hinge means 64will merely become bent to a greater degree, again thus effectivelyallowing the foldable and collapsible wall means 26 to become verticallyshortened to a degree such as to bring about the collapsing of the upperroom portion 21U into the fully collapsed and retracted relationshipshown in FIG. 2and this will occur entirely by reason of bending of saidwall means 26 at the plurality of horizontal vertically spaced hingelines 64.

Incidentally, it should be noted that the laminated construction of theexemplary first form of the wall means 26 is shown only in FIG. 9 andelsewhere is shown in a manner which appears to comprise a singlethickness of material rather than a laminated structure. This is done inthe views other than FIG. 9 for reasons of drawing simplification andclarity.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a slight modification of the foldable wallmeans 26 of the first form of the invention, and similar parts thereofare indicated by similar reference numerals, primed, however. It will benoted that in this slight modification, the vertically adjacent,horizontally directed slot portions 63' are interconnected -byhorizontal hinge means 64, each of which is somewhat different from thehinge means 64 best shown in FIG. 9 and comprises a pair of physicallynon-integrally, and relatively movably, connected curved hinge elements64A and 64B which are so looped and curvedly interconnected as tocomprise an effective rotative interconnection thereof capable ofrotation about a substantially common longitudinal hinge axissubstantially concentric therewith. In other words, in this slightmodification of the invention, each of the plurality of verticallyspaced horizontally directed hinges 64 need not be of a type involvingmaterial deformation as was the case in connection with the hinge means64 best shown in FIG. 9. Therefore, this type of wall means 26 may bemade of any suitable material not necessarily of a readily deformabletype. However, it will be noted that the construction of each of themodified hinge means 64 of FIG. 12 is such that it is ditficult toeffectively join them together at each of the four corners of thevertically collapsible wall means 26' in an effectively sealed mannerwithout the provision of additional corner sealing means and such isprovided, as is best shown in FIG. 11, and takes the form of a flexiblecorner sealing strip 67 which is joined at the side edges thereof to endedges of the slats 63' and hinges 64 and which is capable of freelyfolding at planes coincident with each of the hinges 64' While retainingan effective corner seal. The corner sealing material 67 may be aflexible plastic material, a waterproofed fabric material, or any othersuitable flexible material capable of functioning in the manner justdescribed.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a further modification of the wall means 26of the first form of the invention as illustrated in detail in FIGS. 8and 9, and, because of the similarity, corresponding parts of thismodification are indicated by similar reference numerals, doubly primed,however. It will be noted that, in this modification, the verticallyadjacent slat members or portions 63" are interconnected by an integraltype of hinge means 64", each of which is very similar to the integraltype of deformable hinge means 64 of the form of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. However, in this modification the foldablewall means 26" is made of a relatively elastic plastic and, to increasethe ready deformability of the material at the location of the hingemeans 64", the material is effectively made substantially thinner alonga horizontal line whereby to define the hinge means 64 as a portionwhich has been effectively rendered more readily deformable thanadjacent slat portions 63 by reason of said thinning of the material.This is in contrast to the increased deformability of the materialcomprising the first hinge means 64 of the form of the invention shownin FIGS. 8 and 9, which was produced primarily by reason of the pre-bentor pre-deformed physical configuration of the foldable wall means 26 ateach of said hinge means 64 which, of course, produced a stressconcentration at the location of said hinge means 64 for effectivelyincreasing the deformability thereof under vertical tension or verticalcompression loading of the foldable wall means 26.

The apparatus of the present invention, in one preferred exemplary form,may also include indicator or warning apparatus or means adapted toclearly indicate in a perceptible manner to a would-be driver of apickup truck, or other observer, whether or not the camper has beenfully collapsed into the fully retracted relationship shown in FIG. 2.This is important because, normally speaking, it is desirable to havethe camper in the fully collapsed relationship shown in FIG. 2 beforedriving the pickup truck carrying the camper from one location toanother. This is especially important if relatively high speed drivingis likely since the vertical height minimization of the camper providedby collapsing same into the position shown in FIG. 2 greatly minimizeswind resistance and any chance'of damage occurring to the camper as aresult thereof or as a result of striking some object overlying theload.

Therefore, one exemplary such indicator and warning arrangement isillustrated in part in FIGS. 3 and 4 and is illustrated in electricalschematic form in FIG. 15, and it will be noted that it comprises anormally closed electrical switch means 68 physically carried by atleast one of the connecting rods 33 of at least one of the extensionactuator means 32 and electrically connected by electric circuit means69 through the ignition switch 71 (or any other desired electricalswitch means positioned in the cab of the pickup truck) and through anelectrical power supply means 72 (usually the battery of the pickuptruck, although not specifically so limited in all forms of theinvention) to a perceptible Warning signal-producing means 73 which, inone preferred form of the invention, comprises a red jewel indicatorlight which may be mounted on the dashboard or instrument panel of thetruck within the cab thereof (or at any other convenient visiblyperceptible location).

It will be noted that this arrangement is such that the switch r33 isnormally closed so that the battery 72 normally energizes the red jewelwarning light 73 whenever the ignition switch 71 is closed whereby towarn a wouldbe driver of the pickup truck that the camper is in thefully expanded relationship shown in FIG. 1. He will, thus, know that itis necessary for him to vertically retract the camper apparatus into thefully collapsed and retracted relationship shown in FIG. 1 before hedrives the pickup truck, carrying the camper, from one location toanother. As soon as he does this by allowing retraction of the fourextension actuator means 32 in the manner previously described, theswitch 68, which is carried by at least one of the connecting rods 33 ofat least one of the extension actuators 32, moves downwardly into aposition such that insertion of the locking pin 44 thorugh the lockingpin aperture 45 will bring about operation of the switch 68 in a mannerwhich opens same and holds same open, thus making it impossible for thewarning signal light 73 to be energized when a would-be driver of thepickup truck turns the ignition switch 71 on. This merely illustratesone possible arrangement for such an indicator and warning apparatus ormeans which may take any of a variety of forms within the :broad scopeof the present invention.

It should be noted that any of the various types of fol-dable wallmeans, such as the exemplary one generally designated at 26 in the firstform of the invention and the corresponding slight modification thereofshown in FIGS. lll4, may be provided with suitable thermal insulationmeans cemented, bounded or otherwise suitably attached thereto to veryeffectively insulate the interior of the room-defining room structure 21of the camper. Said insulation means may comprise polystyrene foam,polyurethane foam, polyvinyl foam, foam rubber, or the like, preferablyof the closed-cell type for maximum thermal insulation effect, althoughnot specifically so limited in all forms of the invention, or variousother suitable thermal insulation materials may be employed in lieuthereof.

It should also be noted that the controllably operable linear motormeans referred to herein may comprise extension actuator means adaptedto apply compressive extension force between the bottom and the topthereof as a result of a great variety of different kinds or types ofenergy conversion motor means, such as electric motor means operatinglead screws or the like, hydraulic or pneumatic motor means operatingpistons or the like, or manually operated extension means such asscissor jacks, rotary screw jacks, or merely an effectively extendablesupport element adapted to be positioned between the lower room portion21L and the upper part of the upper room portion 2'1U after they havebeen manually vertically extended with respect to each other. In thislatter case, the so-called linear motor means may actually effectivelycomprise such support means, whether used directly for lifting the upperroom portion 21U or for merely supporting it after it has been manuallylifted, with the composite thereof effectively comprising said linearmotor means. It should also be noted that, in addition to thecompressive-force-exerting type of linear motor means just referred to,said experssion, linear motor means, is also intended to include andcomprehend tension type arrangements for effectively applying tensionfrom above to the upper room portion 21U whereby to effectivelyvertically extend it with respect to the nonmoving lower room portion21L. For example, this might comprise a pulley arrangement attached tosome overhead fixed support member carried by the truck or automobile oradapted to be temporarily placed in an overhead operative position withrespect to the collapsed upper room portion 21U whenever such upwardtension is to 'be applied to the upper room portion 21U for liftingsame. This may be acomplished by using a winch or any other means forapplying tension to such a pulley arrangement. In other words, theexpression, linear motor means, is intended to be broadly construed andto include and comprehend all of the general types of arrangements justreferred to, which are not to be taken as limiting the invention theretobut as generally indicating the broad scope of the linear motor means.

It should be understood that the figures and the specific descriptionthereof set forth in this application are for the purpose ofillustrating the present invention and are not to be construed aslimiting the present invention to the precise and detailed specificstructure shown in the figures and specifically described hereinbefore.Rather, the real invention is intended to include substantiallyequivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventiveconcept of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A vertically collapsible and foldable camper apparatus adapted forconnection to a motor vehicle, comprising: a room-defining roomstructure having a lower room portion and an upper verticallycollapsible and vertically foldable room portion carried over said lowerroom portion and effectively comprising an upper extension thereof, saidvertically collapsible and foldable upper room portion having a basepart therearound at the bottom thereof and having a top part therearoundat the top thereof, said vertically collapsible and foldable upper roomportion being provided with vertically collapsible and foldable sidewall means connected vertically between said base part and said top partthereof; and linear motor means vertically interconnected between saidlower room portion and said top part of said upper room portion forforcible vertical extension of said linear motor means and forcorresponding vertical expansion and unfolding of said verticallycollapsible and foldable side wall means of said upper room portionbetween a lower vertically collapsed position and an upper verticallyextended and expanded position of said top part of said upper roomportion with respect to said lower room portion; said linear motor meansbeing provided with controllably disengageable and inactivatable lockingmeans cooperable for effectively locking said linear motor means infully vertically retracted relationship with said upper room portion infully vertically collapsed and folded relationship with respect to saidlower room portion; and indicator means cooperable with said linearmotor means for perceptibly indicating to a driver of a motor vehicle,when an ignition switch thereof is in on position, that said linearmotor means has not been locked by said locking means in said fullyvertically retracted relationship.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said vertically collapsibleand foldable side wall means of said upper room portion comprises aplurality of vertically interconnected thin-sheet non-foldable slatportions vertically interconnected by effectively foldable hingeportions, with each vertically adjacent set of non-foldable slatportions being in a different vertically spaced plane and with theplurality of interconnecting hinge portions being also in a plurality ofintervening vertically spaced planes.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said vertically collapsibleand foldable side wall means of said upper room portion comprises aplurality of vertically interconnected thin-sheet non-foldable slatportions vertically interconnected by effectively foldable hingeportions, with each vertically adjacent set of non-foldable slatportions being in a different vertically spaced plane and With theplurality of interconnecting hinge portions being also in a plurality ofintervening vertically spaced planes, each of said vertically spacedhinge portions comprising an integral bendable hinge portion adapted tobe forcibly deformed when vertically adjacent slat portions are forciblymoved toward and away from each other without substantial deformation.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said vertically collapsibleand foldable side Wall means of said upper room portion comprises aplurality of vertically interconnected thin-sheet non-foldable slatportions vertically interconnected by effectively foldable hingeportions, with each vertically adjacent set of non-foldable slatportions being in a different vertically spaced plane and with theplurality of interconnecting hinge portions being also in a plurality ofintervening vertically spaced planes, each of said vertically spacedhinge portions comprising a pair of physically non-integrally andrelatively movably connected hinge elements effectively rotativelyinterconnected with respect to each other for rotation about asubstantially common longitudinal hinge axis.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said vertically collapsibleand foldable side wall means of said upper room portion comprises aplurality of vertically interconnected thin-sheet non-foldable slatportions vertically interconnected by effectively foldable hingeportions, with each vertically adjacent set of non-foldable slatportions being in a different vertically spaced plane and with theplurality of interconnecting hinge portions being also in a plurality ofintervening vertically spaced planes, each of said vertically spacedhinge portions comprising a pair of physically non-integrally andrelatively movably connected hinge elements effectively rotativelyinterconnected with respect to each other for rotation about asubstantially common longitudinal hinge axis, and including flexiblecorner sealing means effectively sealingly connected with respect tosaid vertically collapsible and foldable side wall means at effectivecorner portions thereof.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said base part of said uppervertically collapsible and foldable room portion is attached to andcomprises a top part of said lower room portion and extendingtherearound.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said linear motor meanscomprises a plurality of extension actuator means, each taking the formof a hydraulic cylinder and piston type of actuator effectively providedwith hydraulic circuit means, a common supply of hydraulic fluid andcontrollably operable pumping jack means connected thereto forcontrollably pressurizing and pumping said hydraulic fluid to each ofsaid extension actuator means for controllably vertically andsimultaneously extending same and for controllably allowing the verticalretraction thereof under the action of gravity.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said lower room portion isprovided with a bottom part which is substantially T-shaped as seen inend elevation and which is cooperable for received engagement withrespect to the similarly shaped bed and upstanding side wall portions ofa motor vehicle of the pick-up truck type.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said base part of said uppervertically collapsible and foldable room portion is attached to andcomprises a top part of said lower room portion and extendingtherearound, said top part of said upper room portion being providedwith sealing and overlapping weather-stripping flap means cooperablewith said top part of said lower room portion when said upper roomportion is in said fully vertically collapsed and folded relationshipfor effectively sealing and weather-stripping the horizontal junctionregion between vertically adjacent surfaces of said top parts of saidupper and lower room portions.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said indicator meanscomprises normally closed electrical switch means positioned for openingactuation in response to full retraction of said linear motor means andthe engagement of said locking means with respect thereto in said fullyretracted relationship, electric circuit means interconnecting saidswitch means with the ignition switch of a motor vehicle and providedwith a perceptible warning signalproducing means connected in circuittherewith for normal energization whereby to produce a perceptiblewarning signal whenever said linear motor means is not in said fullyretracted and locked relationship.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said controllabledisengageable and inactivatable locking means 14 includes a portionthereof cooperable for effectively locking said linear motor means infully extended relationship with said upper room portion in fullyvertically expanded relationship.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said indicator meanscomprises normally closed electrical switch means positioned for openingactuation in response to full retraction of said linear motor means andthe engagement of said locking means with respect thereto in said fullyretracted relationship, electric circuit means interconnecting saidswitch means with the ignition switch of a motor vehicle and providedwith a perceptible Warning signal-producing means connected in circuittherewith for normal energization whereby to produce a perceptiblewarning signal whenever said linear motor means is not in said fullyretracted and locked relationship.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,243,659 5/1941Thompson 296-23 3,021,170 2/ 1962 Cornelius 296-23 3,053,562 9/1962Farber 296-26 3,160,435 12/1964 Smith 29623 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,200,4386/1959 France.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner. P. GOODMAN, Assistant Examiner.

1. A VERTICALLY COLLAPSIBLE AND FOLDABLE CAMPER APPARATUS ADAPTED FORCONNECTION TO A MOTOR VEHICLE, COMPRISING: A ROOM-DEFINING ROOMSTRUCTURE HAVING A LOWER ROOM PORTION AND AN UPPER VERTICALLYCOLLAPSIBLE AND VERTICALLY FOLDABLE ROOM PORTION CARRIED OVER SAID LOWERROOM PORTION AND EFFECTIVELY COMPRISING AN UPPER EXTENSION THEREOF, SAIDVERTICALLY COLLAPSIBLE AND FOLDABLE UPPER ROOM PORTION HAVING A BASEPART THEREAROUND AT THE BOTTOM THEREOF AND HAVING A TOP PART THEREAROUNDAT THE TOP THEREOF, SAID VERTICALLY COLLAPSIBLE AND FOLDABLE UPPER ROOMPORTION BEING PROVIDED WITH VERTICALLY COLLAPSIBLE AND FOLDABLE SIDEWALL MEANS CONNECTED VERTICALLY BETWEEN SAID BASE PART AND SAID TOP PARTTHEREOF; AND LINEAR MOTOR MEANS VERTICALLY INTERCONNECTED BETWEEN SAIDLOWER ROOM PORTION AND SAID TOP PART OF SAID UPPER ROOM PORTION FORFORCIBLE VERTICAL EXTENSION OF SAID LINEAR MOTOR MEANS AND FORCORRESPONDING VERTICAL EXPANSION AND UNFOLDING OF SAID VERTICALLYCOLLAPSIBLE AND FOLDABLE SIDE WALLS MEANS OF